Toy handcar



H. MACHESNEY TOY HANDCAR Filed Feb. 26, 1949 JNVENTOR.

April 24, 1951 Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY yHANDCAR Henry Machesney, Brentwood, Pa.

ApplicationFebruary 26, 1949, Serial No. '78,549

1V Claim. 1

This invention relate@l to a mechanical toy, and important objects and advantages thereof are to provide a toy of the character described, which comprises a miniature hand car generally representativeof. the conventional type of small, handpropelled car used by railroad laborers, whichincludes a rocking beam actuated by the rotation. of the wheels thereof, and which embodies a pair of manikin` figures with shiftable parts allowing the pumping action of the latter to simulate the actual propulsion of they hand car by such movement of the manikin figures.

Further objects of theinvention are-to provide a colorful toy of the class stated, which operates to visably display considerable action and mechanical movements, and consequently will afford much entertainment, amusement and fascination to children as a plaything, whichl is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable, attractivev in appearance, positive in its action, and comparatively economical in its manufacture.

Withv the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and varrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numeralsI of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutr the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view `of ka `toy hand car constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the spring drive mechanism embodied in the invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a modied form of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the toy hand car comprises an oblong, rectangularlyshaped platform frame I. The frame is generally flat and disposed horizontally, and includes a pair of integrally formed side anges 2, which depend at right-angles at respective side edges of the frame and extend throughout the length of the latter. The end portions of the flanges are tapered, as indicated at 3, to enhance the appearance of the frame structure.

A straight shaft 4 and a crank shaft 5 are the latter in spaced relationto each other.

suita ly journaled for rotation in the side anges 2 of the frame I, and extend transversely in A pair of opposed wheels 5 are xed on respective ends4 of the straight shaft 4, and a similar pair of opposed wheels are fixedV on respective ends of the crankshaft 5. Y

The wheels t and 7 arer disposed inwardly ofthey side flangesz, and project a considerable distance above-the frame I through respective slots 9, i9 and II,` which are provided therefor in the frame. The wheels are of a` considerable diameter to.V enhance the mechanical activity of the device.

A tapering, hollow standard I2 is fixed in positionon the frame I, and projects. vertically upward from the latter. The standardis oblong, rectangularly-shaped in transverse cross y section `and is disposed longitudinally` on the centerof the frame.

An elongated, longitudinally extending rocking beam` I3 is supported, centrally of its length, on .the standard I2, and is formed with a centrally disposed looped portion I4, which surrounds the reduced upper, freeend of the standard. A rocking rod, I5, journaled for rocking movement, extends transversely throughithe reduced upper end .of the standard, and has its ends fixed in the respective sides of the looped portion I4 of the beam, Vwhereby the latter is allowed. a seesaw or oscillating movement on its connection with the upper reducedv end of the standard.

A rocker arm` I6, havingV its .upper end. fixed to the rocking rod I5, depends at` rightA angles tothe rocking beam I3 and lextends through the standard I2. The lower end of the rocker arm is pivotally joined to one end of' a connecting bar I1, which latter has its other end pivotally connected with the crankshaft 5. It will be obvious that, during the travel of the hand car, the rotation of the wheels 'I will impart rotation to the crankshaft and thereby actuate the connecting bar, the rocker arm, and the rocking rod to impart seesaw oscillating movement to the rocking beam I3. The side walls of the standard are preferably provided4 with large openings I8, so that the movement of the rocker arm is clearly visible during the operation or travel of the hand car.

A short cross bar I9 is fixed in each end of the rocking beam I3. A pair of articulated manikin figures,v respectively indicated at 20 and 2|, are secured to the upright position on respective ends of the frame I. The manikin figures face each other and are joined at their waistlines 22, and the hand members thereof are pivotally joined, as indicated at 23, to respective ends of the cross bars. It will be apparent that the seesaw oscillating' movement of the rocking beam will impart an alternating stoo'ping and straightening movement to the upper portions of the manikin figures, whereby the latter will appear as actually effecting the operation of the rocking beam and of the hand car itself. It will here be noted that the position of the arm portions of the manikin iigures 20 and 2l are varied with respect to each other, for the purpose of somewhat varying the relative movements of said manikin figures to thereby provide greater operating variety of movement.

'Ihe toy hand car is provided with a spring drive mechanism 24, which may be of any suitable construction and carried by the frame l. The drive mechanism is of the type adapted to i be rewound by means of a key 25 in the conventional manner well known in the art;

The drive mechanism 24 includes a driving gear 25, which meshes with a gear 2 that is fixed on the straight shaft 4. The operation of the drive mechanism will propel the hand car and, of course, thereby cause the actuation of al1 other movable parts of the device. A suitable control element 28 is pivotally mounted on the frame i, and is operable to engage the gear 2l to suspend non-powered device may be provided with flanged wheels to adapt same for being coupled in train of toy cars upon track rails. Further, the poweroperated type of hand car may be employed to propel itself or to haul atrain of toy cars attached therewith.

The present invention provides a most durable Iand mechanically active toy of vits kind, which may be colorfully and attractively decorated, and successfully employed as a plaything for the amusement and entertainment of children, and

in which the embodied manikin gures are of considerable width and thickness.

VWhat I claim is:

A toy hand car of the class described, comprising the combination of a platform frame, a pair the operation of the drive mechanism when desired. A hitching link 29 is pivotally connected at one end of the frame l to vallow the attachment of other types of toy cars with the improved hand car.

The disclosure, shown in Figure 4, comprises, a hand car consisting of a platform frame 30 mounted on anged wheels 3l to adapt the latter Yfor travel on the conventional type of toy track rails 32. An electric motor 33, of any suitable construction, is mounted on the frame 30, and operates a drive mechanism 3B to propel the hand car. A rocking beam 34 is connected, centrally of its length, to the motor by a pivoting pin 35. A connecting bar 31 is pivotally connected to the rocking beam 34 and to one of the Wheels 3| to impart seesaw oscillating movement to the rocking beam 34 during the driven travel of the hand car. A mannikin figure, Vof the type abovedescribed, is connected at each end of the rocking beam 34. v

It is vapparent that the toy hand car may be constructed without any drive mechanism and be 4operated by being towed by hand, and that such of spaced shafts journaled for rotation in said frame, one of said shafts being formed with a centrally disposed crankshaft, a wheel xed on each end of said shafts, a hollow standard secured on the center of said frame and taperingtcw-ard the upper end thereof, a rocking beam including a looped rectangularly-shaped center portion, said center portion surrounding the reduced upper end of said standard, a transversely extending rocking rod pivotaliy engaged in said standard and having the ends thereof xed in the center of respective sides of said looped center portion to allow the seesaw oscillating movement or" said rocking beam, a rocker arm having its upper end fixed to said rod and depending through said standard and through said platform, a connecting bar pivotally connected with the lower end of said arm below said platform and with said crankshaft, and a pair of manikin figures includingr arms mounted on said frame and being pivotally joined with respective ends of said rocking beam, the upper portions of said manikin'gures being pivotally connected with respective lower portions thereof, the arm extensions of one of said upper portions varying from the arm extensions of the other of said upper portions to vary the movements of said upper portions with respect to each other.

HENRY MACHESNEY.

REFERENCES CITED rThe following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,746,056 Sessler Feb. 4, 1930 2,052,447 Coderre Aug. 25, 1936' 2,346,978 Lent Apr. 18, 1944 

